Stevie Nicks Channeled A Character From Nightmare Alley For Her Song From Elvis
Baz Luhrmann's remixed version of the life and times of Elvis Presley feels like the exuberant director's version of a comic book movie (an opinion /Film's Rafael Motamayor agreed with in his review). "Elvis" has garnered a whopping eight Oscar nominations this year and the jam-packed soundtrack was also Grammy nominated for Best Compilation Soundtrack. Featuring songs from Tame Impala, Eminem, Kacey Musgraves, Yola, and Elvis Presley himself, one of the most surprising additions to the soundtrack comes from an obscure song choice from Stevie Nicks. The whimsical cover "Cotton Candy Land" appears in the opening scene, setting the stage for Luhrmann's dreamlike biography.
"Cotton Candy Land" was recorded by Presley for the 1963 musical "It Happened At the World's Fair" (not to be confused with the found footage horror film "We're All Going to the World's Fair"). The song was never released as a single, allowing for the classic "(You're the) Devil in Disguise" to dominate the charts that year. When Nicks was approached to record "Cotton Candy Land" in the film, she wasn't just required to deliver a striking vocal. In the movie, Nicks is actually the singing voice you hear coming out of the character Madame Zeena.
According to a new Q&A with Luhrmann and composer Elliott Wheeler, Nicks developed a deep connection with the song and committed herself to becoming a version of the Madame Z you see in the finished film while recording. In an interesting connection with Presley's controlling manager Colonel Tom Parker, Madame Z in "Elvis" was actually inspired by a character in Parker's all-time favorite film.
Nightmare Alley and Circus Gothic
The official YouTube Q&A from Warner Bros. discussing the soundtrack features composer Elliott Wheeler using the phrase "Circus Gothic" to describe the vibe and sound they wanted Stevie Nicks to capture for The Snowman's Theme from "Cotton Candy Land." To achieve the desired effect, Nicks took inspiration from a film noir classic. Luhrmann revealed the specific film and its connection to Presley's domineering manager, saying:
"Later in the movie you see Zeena, who is this mentalist character and she's a bit of a nod to the mentalist character in the film 'Nightmare Alley,' which was Colonel Tom Parker's favorite movie. But Stevie really studied character, and she wanted to capture the character and the way she sang 'The Snowman's Theme.' It's just a measure of the artist that she cared that much, and got that amazing vocal performance."
The original "Nightmare Alley" from 1947 has found a new audience and appreciation as a classic American film noir after Guillermo Del Toro's haunting remake of the film starring Bradley Cooper and Cate Blanchett dazzled moviegoers last year. The story revolves around a mentalist con man who finds success and riches in the windy city of Chicago. It's no wonder that Colonel Tom Parker, who is depicted in "Elvis" as an abusive crook, revered "Nightmare Alley" and considered it his favorite film. Parker was probably inspired by the idea that an outsider could charm his way into a more opulent lifestyle, by any means necessary.
It would've been nice to see Stevie Nicks in a quick onscreen cameo in "Elvis" as Madame Z, herself, although actress Angie Milliken does a fine job during the quick flash of screen time she enjoys before Luhrmann whisks the camera off in another direction.